Impacts of Mining Activity in the Canton Ponce Enríquez, Province of Azuay, 2010-2020

Abstract

The mining operations present within the jurisdiction of the Camilo Ponce Enríquez canton are of varied scale, artisanal mining, small mining and medium mining, creating interrelations with the Environment. The analysis characterizes the activity in a technical, economic and environmental way, as well as identifies and assesses the alteration of this extractive sector with the environment, together with the analysis of the environment and the characterization of the resource. The impact / aptitude model and the capacity of reception of the territory are proposed in the face of metallic and non-metallic mining exploitation, it is necessary, based on a territorial diagnosis carried out by public institutions of the local and national government within the scope of their competences, to carry out the balance between the vulnerability and the potential of the territory for such activity. In this study, 5 evaluation components are established, through a shared methodology of some authors by disaggregating the components or dimensions of natural value, subdividing the element as many times as is convenient, with the participation of a panel of experts who assesses the importance and value. natural value of the territorial units present, obtaining the natural value or conservation value of the territory.